Chess-like game apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

In embodiments presented herein, a chess-like game apparatus and methods of play are provided. In accordance to embodiments, an element of chance is introduced by a roll of a tetrahedron-shaped die that adds to the strategic play of the traditional rules of chess. The game board may accommodate from 2 to 4 players adding an additional element of complexity and potential collaboration between players. A winner is determined by capturing the pharaoh of each player, “capturing the staff of Ra”, or by points when there is a stalemate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional patent application claiming benefit under 35 USC §120 of claiming priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 61530937, filed on Sep. 2, 2011, which is in its entirety incorporated herewith by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a board game apparatus and more particularly to a chess-like board game apparatus and methods of playing the same.

BACKGROUND

The traditional game of chess is a well known game of strategy. Chess is played on a square game board consisting of play spaces in the form of squares arranged in eight rows called ranks and eight columns called files. The colors of the sixty-four squares alternate and are referred to as “light squares” and “dark squares”. The game board is placed with a light square at the right-hand end of the rank nearest to each player.

The game pieces are divided, by convention, into white and black sets. The players are referred to as “White” and “Black”, and each begins the game with sixteen game pieces of the specified color. The game pieces consist of one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The game pieces are set on the game board in the well known traditional chess game starting position, with each queen on its own color.

White always moves first. After the initial move, the players alternately move one game piece at a time (with the exception of castling, when the king and one rook are moved simultaneously). Game pieces are moved to either an unoccupied square or one occupied by an opponent's piece, which is captured and removed from play. With the sole exception of en passant, all game pieces capture opponent's game pieces by moving to the square that the opponent's game piece occupies. A player may not make any move that would put or leave his king under attack. If the player to move has no legal moves, the game is over; it is either a checkmate—if the king is under attack—or a stalemate—if the king is not under attack.

Game pieces are known by their traditional name: king, queen, bishop, knight, rook, and pawn. Each game piece has its own predetermined rule for moving. The game pieces can move if no other game pieces (including one's own game piece) are on the squares between the game piece's initial position and its destination, except for the knight which is the only game piece that can leap over other game pieces. The king moves one square in any direction. The king also has a special move which is called castling and involves simultaneously moving a rook. The rook can move any number of squares along any rank or file, but may not leap over other game pieces. Along with the king, the rook is involved during the king's castling move. The bishop can move any number of squares diagonally, but may not leap over other game pieces. The queen combines the power of the rook and bishop and can move any number of squares along rank, file, or diagonal, but it may not leap over other game pieces. The knight moves to any of the closest squares that are not on the same rank, file, or diagonal, thus the move forms an “L”-shape two squares long and one square wide. The knight is the only piece that can leap over other game pieces. The pawn may move forward to the unoccupied square immediately in front of it on the same file; or on its first move it may advance two squares along the same file provided both squares are unoccupied, or it may move to a square occupied by an opponent's game piece which is diagonally in front of it on an adjacent file, capturing that game piece. The pawn has two special moves: the en passant capture and pawn promotion.

Pawn promotion refers to the transformation of a pawn that reaches its eighth rank into the player's choice of a queen, knight, rook, or bishop of the same color. The chosen game piece replaces the pawn on the same square and is part of the move. Promotion is not limited to a game piece that has already been captured. Every pawn that reaches its eighth rank must be promoted.

Traditional chess has been played for centuries. Well developed strategies have been developed over time. This puts inexperienced players at a distinct disadvantage when playing an experienced player who is well versed in the developed strategies. Further, the game may become uninteresting with a rote application of developed strategies by the experienced player.

What is needed in the art is a chess-like game that is engaging for both the inexperienced and experienced player, lessens the ability to implement or depend on memorized strategies, and levels the playing field when an inexperienced player plays an experienced player.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a chess-like board game apparatus and method of playing the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a chess-like game apparatus configured for four player play, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a game board in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an ankh in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tetrahedron-shaped die, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a chess-like game apparatus configured for two player play, in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a chess-like game apparatus configured for two player play, in accordance with another embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of a chess-like game apparatus configured for three player play, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, embodiments of apparatus and methods will be disclosed. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, or configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other approaches, materials, components, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring the embodiments. Accordingly, in some instances, features are omitted or simplified in order to not obscure the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments.

Reference will now be made to embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language which will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the illustrated embodiments and further applications of the principles of the invention, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates, are also within the scope of the invention.

In embodiments presented herein, a chess-like game apparatus is provided. In accordance to embodiments, an element of chance is introduced, by way of example, but not limited thereto, by a roll of a tetrahedron-shaped die that adds to the strategic play of the traditional rules of chess. The game board may accommodate from 2 to 4 players adding an additional element of complexity and potential collaboration between players. A winner is determined by capturing the pharaoh of each player, “capturing the staff of Ra”, or by points when there is a stalemate. There is no traditional check and checkmate aspect to the game. Further elements of the game are provided below. It is understood that one or more elements of the game may be modified or substituted, or removed from the game without departing from the spirit of the game.

For the purposes of the subject matter disclosed herein, “fall”, “fallen” and “captured” are used interchangeably in reference to a game piece that is removed from play after a successful attack by an opponent. The capture rules for the embodiments herein are substantially the same as the capture rules in traditional chess but for the modifications presented herein.

For the purposes of the subject matter disclosed herein, and by way of example, but not limited thereto, the embodiment of the chess-like game apparatus has an ancient Egyptian theme. It is understood and appreciated that the game pieces may also be those of the conventional chess game, or of another theme. Below is provided a comparison between the game pieces of an embodiment provided herein with an ancient Egyptian theme and those of traditional chess.

FIG. 1 shows, in a top view, a chess-like game apparatus 2 in accordance with an embodiment. The chess-like game apparatus 2 comprises a game board 10 and game pieces 30 represented by two letters: a first letter to indicate name and a second letter to indicate color. The game piece first letter designates the following:

P—Pharaoh—King in traditional chess. The movement rules are modified from the traditional chess rules in that there is no castling in this embodiment of the movement rules.

N—Nefertiti—Queen in traditional chess; retains traditional movement rules.

S—Scribe—Bishop in traditional chess; retains traditional movement rules.

G—Guardian—Knight in traditional chess; retains traditional movement rules.

O—Obelisk—Rook in traditional chess. The movement rules are modified from the traditional chess rules in that there is no castling in this embodiment of the movement rules.

M—Minion—Pawn in traditional chess. The movement rules are modified from the traditional chess rules in that the minions move only one space at a time, that is, no double space moves on the first move. There is also no en passant rule. The attack rules are modified as provided below. Pawn promotion is modified from the traditional rules as provided below. A minion is allowed to capture only those pieces that are diagonally in front of it, but not if the piece is within another's turf; turf being a portion of the game board as defined below. In accordance with an embodiment, for visual interest in keeping with an Egyptian theme, the minions of individual players may take the form of one of a scarab, raven, asp, and scorpion, by way of example but not limited thereto. A minion may reincarnate as a pharaoh, Nefertiti, scribe, guardian or obelisk as described below in accordance with reincarnation rules.

The game piece second letter designates the color, by way of example, but not limited to: R—Red; G—Green; B—Black; and Y—Yellow.

Play Pieces

Die—A die having a tetrahedron shape where each apex has a different color. The die provides an element of chance, in this embodiment, 1:4 ratio of probability, during predetermined events of the game. It is understood that the element of chance may be provided by other means, such as, but not limited to, mechanical and electronic devices that provide a 1:4 probability.

Stone of Contemplation—A chit that is passed to the player of the current turn; a non-essential play piece used for convenience.

64 Ankhs—Play pieces that represent life energy units; 16 ankhs per player.

Staff of Ra—A play piece that is to be captured by a pharaoh to win the game; captured literally or virtually.

As shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment, the game board 10 may have a flat, two-dimensional configuration similar to the traditional chess game board but with 14 ranks and 14 files. In accordance with another embodiment, the game board 10 may not be a two-dimensional flat surface like the conventional chess game board, but may have a three-dimensional structure of a four-sided pyramid as shown in FIG. 2; the four-sided pyramid further emphasizing the Egyptian theme and adding complexity to the play. Such three-dimensional structure not only gives the game board 10 an attractive look, but also makes the game play more challenging for the players because the players have to take into account the three-dimensional contour of the game board 10 when they visualize subsequent moves in their minds. In other words, the players have to think three-dimensionally. Thus, the three-dimensional game board 10 imparts distinct three-dimensional characteristics to the chess-like game.

In accordance with an embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the game board 10 defines a shape of a right square pyramid with a square base 12, four stepped sides 14 a,b,c,d, and a flat top 16 defined by four square playing spaces 22 at the center of the game board 10 on level L7. The stepped sides 14 a,b,c,d and the flat top 16 form a plurality of levels at different heights with the flat top 16 being the highest level. The game board 10 is divided into a plurality of square playing spaces 22 which are alternating colored, referred to as light and dark. In the present embodiment, the game board 10 has seven levels denoted as L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, with L1 being the lowest level and L7 the highest. Each of the levels is in the shape of a square, and each side of the square has one row of playing spaces 22.

The lowest levels L1 through L3 have eight playing spaces 22 along each side 14 a,b,c,d, with three end squares 23, referred to as non-playing spaces 24, of each level L1, L2, L3 removed from play; that is, game pieces 30 may not move into these non-playing spaces 24. Since the non-playing spaces 24 are not in play, they do not have to follow the alternating color convention, and are included herein as an easy to understand representation of the layout of the game board 10. These non-playing spaces 24 may be used for other purposes, such as, but not limited to, to store a player's ankhs, to present ankhs during the resurrection process, such as upon an “altar to the gods” while the die is rolled. In accordance with an embodiment, the non-playing spaces 24 to the right of each player is provided with an altar having the player's color and a display stand for holding captured ankhs. During the resurrection process, as described below, the designated number of captured ankhs are removed from the display stand and placed on the altar in a form of an “offering to cast a resurrection spell”. The die is then rolled to determine the outcome of the resurrection. After the die roll, the played ankhs are removed from the altar and removed from further game play. Resurrection will be described in detail below.

The number of playing spaces 22 per side reduces by two playing spaces 22 as the height of the level increases from levels L4 through L7, where L7 has two playing spaces 22 on each side and defines the top 16.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the vertical projection of the game board 10 at levels L4-L7 resembles a game board of the conventional chess game, and with an increased numbers of ranks and files for levels L1-L3 as described. More particularly, the playing spaces 22 of the game board 10 in vertical projection form a square matrix having fourteen rank rows and fourteen file rows. Also it can be seen in this view that levels L1-L7 form concentric squares, with one row of playing spaces 22 along each side 14 a,b,c,d of the concentric squares, except for levels L1-L3 with the three non-playing spaces 24 of each level removed from play.

Levels L1-L3 are referred to as the respective player's turf 26.

The three-dimensional game board 10 may be made of many suitable materials. For example, the game board 10 may be formed of molded plastic. Alternatively, for customers who desire durability, appearance, and value of the game apparatus, the game board 10 may be made of metal, such as brass or pewter, or of wood, glass, marble, among other suitable materials.

Embodiments of the chess-like game are described as having physical game board, game pieces and play pieces. It is understood and anticipated that the game may also be played by players connected by a computer network, and in such a case the game board, game pieces and play pieces may be represented by computer generated images on computer screens of players. Electronic manifestations of embodiments of the chess-like game are also appreciated for play against one or more computer-controlled opponents and/or against other human players.

As an improvement of the traditional chess game, the game apparatus 2 of the present embodiment utilizes the game pieces 30 of the traditional chess game or that of the Egyptian theme, and the traditional rules governing their movement and capturing rules are substantially retained, except for certain changes to the rules for the minions, among other things, which will be described in greater detail below. To explain further, the set of game pieces 30 for each player includes one pharaoh, one Nefertiti, two scribes, two guardians, two obelisks, and eight minions. Generally, except for the minions, each of these game pieces 30 moves and captures on the game board 10 according to the traditional rules of chess as if the game board 10 was a flat, two-dimensional board like the vertical projection shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the three-dimensional contour of the game board 10 having a pyramid shape does not hinder the maneuverability of the game pieces 30.

In addition to the game pieces 30 that move about the game board 10, the game apparatus 2 further includes play pieces referred to ankhs. FIG. 3 is a front view of an ankh 40, in accordance with an embodiment. An ankh 40 is a play piece that represents a life energy unit. At the start of the game, each player is provided with 16 ankhs 40, one ankh 40 for each game piece 30. As will be discussed below, ankhs 40 are used in the resurrection play rule. A player surrenders one ankh 40 to an opponent player when a player's game piece 30 is captured by the opponent player.

An additional play piece is a die 50. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the die 50. The die 50 has the shape of a tetrahedron. Each of the four apexes 52 is designated by one of the four colors of the sets of game pieces 30, for example, but not limited to, red (R), yellow (Y), black (B) and green (G). When rolled, the die 50 lands on one side with an apex 52 having a unique color extending upwards indicating the rolled color.

In accordance with embodiments, two, three or four players may play the game apparatus 2. The sets of game pieces 30 are preferably distinguishable by their colors, as is traditional for chess-like games. The different colors may be, for example, but not limited to, black, yellow, red, and green. To facilitate the description of the rules of the game of the present invention, the corresponding letters for the game pieces are provided in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Game Piece Black Yellow Red Green Pharaoh PB PY PR PG Nefertiti NB NY NR NG Scribe SB SY SR SG Guardian GB GY GR GG Obelisk OB OY OR OG Minion MB MY MR MG

Initial Game Board Setup and Game Piece Allocation

Initially, the game pieces 30 are placed on the game board 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and referring to Table 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the game board 10 is set up for play by four players. Each player is provided game pieces 30 of an identifiable color, such as, but not limited to, black, yellow, red, and green. The game pieces 30 are set upon the game board 10 as in the traditional chess game, but for the pharaohs P and Nefertities N. The pharaoh P sits on the right hand side of his Nefertiti N for all players.

The game apparatus may be played with 2, 3 or 4 players. In accordance with an embodiment, a roll of the die 50 determines the player's seating location about the game board 10. Therefore, in a two player game, the players may be seated opposite from each other or adjacent to each other. An adjacent seating configuration adds additional complexity to the game play as compared with traditional chess. Play continues in a clockwise direction around the game board 10.

One of the three starting positions of the game pieces 30 in a game apparatus of the present embodiment for two players is shown in FIG. 5. Again, for simplicity of illustration, FIG. 5 shows the plan view of the game board 10, and the game pieces 30 on the game board 10 are identified by their corresponding letters as listed in Table 1. As illustrated, each player in this two-player setup has a full set of game pieces 30. All of the minions M are positioned on the second level L2, and the rest of the game pieces 30 are positioned on the lowest level L1. The two sets of game pieces 30 are positioned on opposite sides of the game board 10. Generally, after the game begins, like the traditional chess game, each player in turn moves one of his game pieces 30 from one playing space 22 on the game board 10 to another according to the movement rules assigned to that game piece 30. If the game pieces 30 are moved to a playing space 22 occupied by an opponent's playing piece 30, then the opponent's playing piece 30 is deemed as being captured and removed from the game board 10. In the two player game, each of the game pieces 30 moves or captures according the rules of the game as if the board 10 were a flat surface.

Another one of the three starting positions of the game pieces 30 in the game apparatus of the embodiment for two players is shown in FIG. 6. Again, for simplicity of illustration, FIG. 6 shows the plan view of the game board 10, and the game pieces 30 on the board are identified by their corresponding letters as listed in Table 1. As illustrated, each player in this two-player setup has a full set of game pieces 30. The minions are positioned on the second level L2, and the rest of the game pieces 30 are positioned on the lowest level L1. The two sets of game pieces 30 are positioned on adjacent sides of the game board 10.

One example of the starting position of the game pieces 30 in the game apparatus 2 of the embodiment for three players is shown in FIG. 7. Again, for simplicity of illustration, FIG. 7 shows the plan view of the board 10, and the game pieces 30 on the game board 10 are identified by their corresponding letters as listed in Table 1. As illustrated, each player in this three-player setup has a full set of game pieces 30. The minions are positioned on the second level L2, and the rest of the game pieces 30 are positioned on the lowest level L1. The three sets of game pieces 30 are positioned on three respective sides of the game board 10. From these examples it is appreciated that with two and three player games, the players may sit across from and/or adjacent to each other.

In the beginning of the game, each player is provided with 16 ankhs 40 representing one “life energy unit” for each game piece 30. Each game piece has a resurrection life energy unit value as provided in Table 1.

In accordance with an embodiment for tournament play, accumulated scores are kept in the case of a stalemate. Scores are determined by the following rules: each ankh 40 that is captured is worth 1 point; each resurrected piece is worth 5 points; and the staff of Ra is worth 25 points. The player who captures the staff of Ra, has captured the second to last remaining pharaoh, or has the highest point score if there is a stalemate, is declared the winner.

In accordance with an embodiment, to start play, each player rolls the die 50 to determine their color. A two-opponent game does not necessarily mean they will sit across from each other. The location of the player's color is predetermined by the color scheme of the game board 10. The die 50 is rolled again to determine which player starts. Play continues in a clockwise direction.

In accordance with another embodiment, to start play, each player rolls the die 50 to determine their color. The die 50 is rolled again to determine which player starts. Play continues in a clockwise direction where each player takes one turn. After all the players take their one turn, the die 50 is rolled again to determine which player starts the new round. Play continues in a clockwise direction.

A player's turn comprises two parts: an optional resurrection attempt and moving a game piece 30. In accordance with an embodiment, a player's turn is indicated by passing a marker, referred to as the “stone of contemplation”, to the player whose turn has come.

The game pieces 30 ascend and descend the levels L1-L7 of the game board 10, and move between playing squares 22 on the same level in accordance to their respective movement rules previously discussed.

Minions move only one space at a time, that is, no double space moves on the first move. Minions may not attack into an adjacent player's turf 26. Turf 26 is defined as described above. Were the minion to attack into an adjacent player's turf 26, the minion may be trapped in that player's turf 26 throughout the remainder of game play without possibility of reincarnation. This play rule is to make sure that the minion can continue its life journey to possibly become reincarnated.

Reincarnation Rule

Reincarnation is similar to pawn promotion in the traditional rules of chess. When the minion reaches its 14th rank, that is, the first rank of the opposing turf 26 at the opposite side of the game board 10, the minion may reincarnate, or transform, into the player's choice of a fallen game piece 30 except for a pharaoh and minion. This is in contrast to the traditional rules where a pawn may be promoted to any game piece 30, whether fallen or not. Therefore, in this embodiment, players will never have more than one pharaoh, one Nefertiti, two scribes, two obelisks, and two guardians.

In the case where the player has no fallen game pieces 30, the minion must wait at its 14th rank and delay reincarnation. The minion must reincarnate into the player's next fallen game piece 30; the player cannot delay reincarnation until a more desirable game piece 30 has fallen.

Resurrection Rule

The resurrection play rule has no corollary to the traditional game of chess. Resurrection provides a way for a player to bring back a fallen game piece 30 and is not dependent on the status of a minion. The resurrected game piece may be any game piece 30 except for the pharaoh and the minion.

For reference herein, an original ankh 40-O is an ankh 40 that is provided to a player at the beginning of the game representing the “life energy” of the player's game pieces. A surrendered ankh 40-S refers to an ankh 40 that is collected by an opposing player. A player accumulates surrendered ankhs 40-S by collecting an opposing player's original ankhs 40-O in two ways; i.e., an original ankh 40-O is converted to a surrendered ankh 40-S when it passes from the original player to the attacking player. First, an opponent surrenders one original ankh 40-O to an attacking player for each of the opponent's game pieces 30 that are captured by the attacking player. Second, an opponent surrenders all of his remaining original ankhs 40-O to the attacking player, but not the opponent's surrendered ankhs 40-S, when the opponent's pharaoh is captured by the attacking player.

Only surrendered ankhs 40-S may be used “to instill life energy” into a fallen game piece 30. The player's original ankhs 40-O may not be used in the resurrection play. A player may “cast a resurrection spell” for a chance of resurrecting a fallen game piece 30 by offering a predetermined number of surrendered ankhs 40-S “to the gods”. In accordance with an embodiment, the predetermined number of surrendered ankhs 40-S that must be “offered to the gods” is in accordance with the values provided in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Game Piece Life Energy Units Nefertiti 12 ankhs Scribe 9 ankhs Guardian 5 ankhs Obelisk 9 ankhs

In accordance with an embodiment, when a player has collected enough surrendered ankhs 40-S, the player may attempt to resurrect a fallen game piece 30. At the beginning of the player's turn, the player announces which fallen game piece 30 is to attempt resurrection. The player places the corresponding number of surrendered ankhs 40-S as proscribed in Table 2 on an “altar to the gods”, and rolls the die 50. The success of a resurrection is dependent on a roll of the die 50. When rolled, the die 50 will land on one side with an apex 52 having a unique color extending upwards indicating the rolled color as shown in FIG. 4. If the rolled color is not the player's own color, the resurrection is successful. If the rolled color is the player's own color, the resurrection is unsuccessful. Since the die 50 defines a shape of a tetrahedron and has four apexes 52, the chance of a successful resurrection is 3 in 4, or 75%. The surrendered ankhs 40-S that have been played in the resurrection are removed from further play.

If successful, the resurrected game piece 30 is placed on its respective starting playing space 22. In the case where the resurrected game piece 30 is a guardian or an obelisk, the resurrected game piece 30 may be placed on either one of the two starting playing spaces 22 on which a guardian or an obelisk, respectfully, may be placed. In the case where the resurrected game piece 30 is a scribe, the resurrected scribe must be placed on a starting playing space 22 having a different color as a scribe still in play that has not been placed into play via the reincarnation rule. In other words, a player may not, through the process of resurrection, have two scribes occupying the same color of playing spaces 22 unless at least one of the scribes was so placed through the reincarnation rule.

If the starting playing space 22 is occupied by another game piece 30, resurrection cannot be attempted; the playing space 22 must be open for resurrection to be attempted.

After the resurrection play, the same player then proceeds with their turn of moving one of their game pieces 30, but neither the newly resurrected game piece nor the pharaoh are permitted to move during this turn, the turn immediately following a successful resurrection.

Additional Play Rules

There is no warning call of “check” in accordance with an embodiment of the rules.

There is no “checkmate” in accordance with an embodiment of the rules. Each player stays in the game until his pharaoh falls or an opponent captures the staff of Ra.

There is no castling in accordance with an embodiment of the rules.

When a pharaoh is killed, all remaining game pieces 30 that belong to the killed pharaoh are removed from the game board 10 and his original ankhs 40-O, but not the surrendered ankhs 40-S, are awarded to the victor.

In accordance with an embodiment, there are three ways to win the game. The first way to win is to capture the second to last surviving pharaoh. The second way to win is in the case of a stalemate where the player with the most points is the winner.

The third way to win is in accordance with the “capture the staff of Ra” rule. The “capture the staff of Ra” rule is defined as once a pharaoh reaches level L7, the pharaoh may capture the staff of Ra upon the next turn if the Pharaoh survives until the next turn. There is no physical movement in capturing the staff of Ra, only that the pharaoh survives (is not captured) until that player's next turn.

The traditional checkmate rule is not used in the embodiments of this game. If a player is about to move his pharaoh into check by an opponent's piece, that opponent need not warn him. Should a player's pharaoh be put into a stalemate position, his pharaoh becomes ineffective and may not be moved. The player will stay in the stalemate position until his pharaoh is freed by the player or another player or until the game piece 30 that holds the pharaoh in stalemate is moved.

It is appreciated that what has been provided is an improved chess-like board game which uses an attractive three-dimensional game board with a square pyramid shape, play rules that lend an element of chance to the game by the roll of a die, and the ability to attempt to resurrect a fallen piece at any time during play independent of minion location, among other things. These attributes, among others, increase the fun and challenge of playing the game and levels the playing field between a less experienced player and a more advanced player that may be familiar with the play strategy of traditional chess, among other things.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims. 

1. A method of playing a chess-like game by a plurality of players, comprising: providing a game board defining in projection a square having 14 ranks and 14 files comprising 196 identifiable playing spaces of alternating colors, wherein nine playing spaces in each corner are not in play; providing a means for providing an element of chance that provides a 1:4 probability; providing each player with a distinguishable set of playing pieces; providing each player with 16 game pieces referred to as ankhs; placing the playing pieces of each player at predetermined locations; each player, in turn, executing a two-stage turn, a first stage comprising an optional play of a resurrection rule and a second stage comprising moving a game piece from one playing space on the game board to another playing space according to movement rules assigned to each playing piece; executing a reincarnation rule; capturing, during moving, another player's game pieces according to given capturing rules; and continuing the steps of resurrection, moving and capturing until one of the players wins the game according to a predetermined winning rule.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a means for providing an element of chance that provides a 1:4 probability comprises providing a tetrahedron-shaped die having four apexes, each apex having one of each player color.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein play of the resurrection rule comprises: offering a predetermined number of ankhs; rolling the die wherein success of a resurrection is dependent on a roll of not the player's own color; if successful, placing the resurrected game piece on its respective starting playing space; and after the resurrection rule play, the same player proceeding with their turn of moving one of their game pieces except for the newly resurrected game piece nor the pharaoh following a successful resurrection.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing each player with a distinguishable set of playing pieces comprises providing each player with a set of playing pieces substantially equivalent to pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, a queen and a king; and wherein placing the playing pieces of each player at predetermined locations comprises placing each player's set of playing pieces on the game board so that each different set occupies a first two ranks adjacent one side of the game board in a conventional chess arrangement except for each queen sits to the left of the king.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein capturing, during moving, another player's game pieces according to given capturing rules comprises capturing, during moving other player's playing pieces according to standard chess rules, and wherein moving a game piece from one playing space on the game board to another playing space according to movement rules assigned to each playing piece is according to standard chess rules except the pieces equivalent to pawns may only move one space per turn, and that no castling is allowed between pieces equivalent to the king and rook.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising: eliminating players, when more than two players remain in the game, from the game by capturing and removing the player's piece equivalent to a king, at which time all the remaining playing pieces in the set of the removed king are taken off the board.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined winning rule comprises one of: capturing and removing the second remaining player's piece equivalent to a king; and reaching one of a center four playing spaces by a player's piece equivalent to a king and surviving thereon until that player's next turn.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a game board comprises providing a game board defining in projection a square having 14 ranks and 14 files comprising 196 identifiable playing spaces of alternating colors, wherein nine playing spaces in each corner are not in play comprises providing a three-dimensional game board having a right regular square pyramidal shape with four stepped sides and a flat top forming multiple levels of different heights including a lowest level and a highest level, the highest level being the flat top defining four playing spaces, the levels being divided into a plurality of identifiable playing spaces of alternating colors.
 9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the game may be played by players connected by a computer network, and wherein the game board, game pieces and play pieces may be represented by a computer generated image on a player's computer screen.
 10. The method as in claim 2, wherein a roll of the die determines the player's seating location about the game board.
 11. The method as in claim 1, wherein in a two player game the players may be seated opposite from each other or adjacent to each other.
 12. A method of playing a chess-like game by a plurality of players, comprising: providing a three-dimensional game board having a right regular square pyramidal shape with four stepped sides and a flat top forming multiple levels of different heights including a lowest level and a highest level, the highest level being the flat top, the levels being divided into a plurality of identifiable playing spaces of alternating colors; providing a tetrahedron-shaped die having four apexes, each apex having one of each player color; providing each player with a distinguishable set of playing pieces; providing each player with 16 game pieces referred to as ankhs; placing the playing pieces of each player at predetermined locations; each player, in turn, executing a two-stage turn, a first stage comprising an optional resurrection rule play and a second stage comprising moving a game piece from one playing space on the game board to another playing space according to movement rules assigned to each playing piece; capturing, during moving, another player's game pieces according to given capturing rules; and continuing the steps of resurrection, moving and capturing until one of the players wins the game according to a predetermined winning rule.
 13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the game is for two players, and wherein a player who captures a pharaoh playing piece of all of the other players wins the game.
 14. A method as in claim 12, wherein a player who is the first to move a pharaoh playing piece of his set to the highest level of the game board and retains the position until the player's next turn wins the game.
 15. A method as in claim 12, wherein the game is for three players.
 16. The method as in claim 12, wherein the game may be played by players connected by a computer network, and wherein the game board, game pieces and play pieces may be represented by a computer generated image on computer screens of players.
 17. A chess-like game apparatus comprising: a game board; game pieces; and a tetrahedron-shaped die where each apex has a different color.
 18. The chess-like game apparatus of claim 17 wherein the game board has a flat, two-dimensional configuration similar to the traditional chess game but with 14 ranks and 14 files.
 19. The chess-like game apparatus of claim 17 wherein the game board has a three-dimensional structure of a four-sided pyramid.
 20. The chess-like game apparatus of claim 17 wherein the game board defines a shape of a right square pyramid with a square base, four stepped sides, and a flat top defined by four square playing spaces at a center of the game board, the stepped sides and the flat top form a plurality of levels at different heights with the flat top being the highest level, the game board is divided into a plurality of square playing spaces which are alternating colored, referred to as light and dark, the game board has seven levels denoted as L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, with L1 being the lowest level and L7 the highest, each of the levels is in the shape of a square, and each side of the square has one row of playing spaces. the lowest levels L1 through L3 have eight playing spaces along each side with three end squares of each level L1, L2, L3 removed from play, the number of playing spaces per side reduces by two playing spaces as the height of the level increases from levels L4 through L7, where L7 has two playing spaces on each side and defines the top, the vertical projection of the game board at levels L4-L7 resembles a game board of the conventional chess game, and with an increased numbers of ranks and files for levels L1-L3 as described, levels L1-L3 are referred to as the respective player's turf. 